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2013 Sonic To Get RS Treatment

Sonic To Get RS TreatmentChevrolet's 'hot hatch' concept from 2010 will likely get produced.www.GMInsideNews.com
June 20, 2011
By: Nick Saporito

During last year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit Chevrolet took the wraps off of the Aveo RS Concept. The "hot hatch" concept was intended as a design preview of Chevrolet's next generation global B-segment player, but garnered much fanfare for its aggressive design and proposed performance credentials. According to GMI's sources familiar with GM's small car plans, the Aveo RS Concept will survive the name change to Sonic and will likely end up in showrooms next year.

Like the Aveo RS Concept, the Sonic RS is expected to be powered by GM's Ecotec 1.4-liter turbo, making 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. On the outside, expect the RS to resemble the Aveo RS Concept as well, including a more aggressive (if that is possible) lower air dam, fog lamps and perhaps even a body kit. Mechanically, expect some minor tweaks as well, mostly to the car's suspension and larger brakes all around.

The pushing of the performance envelop with the Sonic does not come as a large surprise. In Chevrolet's own press release announcing the Sonic earlier this year the bow-tie brand touted that the normal Sonic's suspension was tuned by "Corvette engineers." That, among other marketing hints, has suggested that GM plans to position the Sonic as a very youthful, performance oriented sub-compact.

While Chevrolet held back from a total confirmation of the Sonic RS' existence, it was made clear to GMI that the Sonic is a foundation for future performance, niche variants of the car. Chevrolet spokesperson Cristi Vazquez stated, "The Chevrolet Sonic with an available 1.4L turbo engine and sporty ride and handling has a strong foundation for performance variants. We have nothing to announce at this time."

GMI expects the Sonic RS to go into production in the October 2012 time frame as a 2013 model in both hatchback and sedan forms.

The normal Sonic will also sport the 1.4-liter turbo as a cost-option. At launch the 1.4-liter will only be available with a six-speed manual transmission, however GM has promised the addition of a six-speed automatic mated to the 1.4-liter turbo mill in the first quarter of 2012. When equipped with the 1.4-liter turbo, the Sonic is expected to wear a 40 MPG highway rating.

Chevrolet announced pricing for the all-new Sonic late last week. The Sonic LS sedan will have a base price of $14,495 when it arrives in dealerships late summer or early fall.

Last edited by nsap; 06-20-2011 at 10:00 AM.

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Re: 2013 Sonic To Get RS Treatment

Bah, this car doesn't need an appearance package, it needs a performance package. It's unfortunate that there won't be a few more ponies available... even for a subcompact that kind of power doesn't make it a pocket rocket, especially since it's already availabe with the regular model.

Re: 2013 Sonic To Get RS Treatment

I too hope they can dial a few extra ponies/torque out of the 1.4T for the RS. If they can get 40mpg out of it, surely they can tweak it for performance for this model.
They really have a chance here to capture the hearts of many buyers, even some who might not have bought a car of this size. An honest to heck performance model would put Chevy small cars on the map.

I'm also curious about these "other variants" built off the Sonic. Do they mean Sonic models? Or cars to be built off the same platform? Sonic crossover? 3 door? I suppose a traditional coupe wouldn't make much sense... But what about a new bodied, new model, B-segment coupe?

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